"Herr von Schwandorf?" inquired Knowlton.
"Schwandorf. Neither Herr nor von. Plain Schwandorf."
The reply came in excellent English, though with a slight throaty accent.
"Knowlton is my name. Mr. McKay. The third member of our party, Mr. Ryan, has just left."
Schwandorf bowed stiffly from the waist.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. White men are all too few here."
Seating himself at a place beyond that just vacated by Tim, he continued, "You stay here for a time?"
"Not long." They reseated themselves. "We go up the river as soon as we can arrange transportation."
The black brows lifted slightly.
"It is a dangerous river. You would do well to travel elsewhere unless you have some pressing reason to explore this stream."